The Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Warwickshire Council met on Wednesday 22 April 2026 to discuss a range of important local issues. Key topics included the financial performance of Stratford Parkway Park and Ride, the draft Council Plan for 2026-2030, and feedback on proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy. The committee also received updates on economic development initiatives, the Infrastructure Funding Statement, and the ongoing HS2 project.

Stratford Parkway Park and Ride Financial Losses

Councillor Lorraine Grocott questioned Councillor Jennifer Warren, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, regarding the financial losses experienced by the Stratford Parkway Park and Ride facility. Councillor Warren confirmed that last year, expenditure was £137k with an income of £43k, resulting in a net loss of £94k. A significant portion of this expenditure (£60k) was attributed to business rates on the on-site cabin, toilets, and seating. While marketing campaigns and initiatives like free bus travel during August have seen patronage increase to around 24,000 passengers, a sustained improvement requires an integrated parking plan with the district council. Plans for site development, including complementary services like a coffee shop, are hoped to reduce cabin-related expenses. Councillor Warren stated she would follow up on specific questions regarding signage, joint ticketing, and the feasibility of reintroducing free bus travel initiatives.

Council Plan 2026-2030

Sarah Duxbury presented the draft Council Plan for 2026-2030, which had been approved by Cabinet in March for wider engagement. The plan, themed 'Recalibrating Warwickshire', sets out the council's strategic direction and priorities, acknowledging the potential for local government reorganisation in Warwickshire. The committee was invited to provide comments on areas relevant to their remit. Councillor Jonathan Chilvers, Leader of the Green Group, raised concerns about the draft plan's intention to review previous commitments on net zero and climate emergencies, with a view to replace them, which he felt contradicted the council's unanimous declaration of a climate emergency. He proposed a recommendation to Cabinet to address this, which was carried. Councillor Chilvers also noted a perceived absence of a strong strand on reducing the inequality gap, despite previous council plans highlighting disparities in income and wealth. The committee carried a recommendation for Cabinet to consider how plans to reduce income inequalities are reflected in the document. Councillor Chilvers further proposed a recommendation for stronger inclusion of walking and reflecting the Local Transport Plan 4's transport hierarchy in the Council Plan, which was also carried. Councillor Senthil Karadiar inquired about the consultation process, noting the relatively low response rate and asking how the committee's scrutiny could influence the final draft, particularly regarding the principle of driving community power.

Home to School Transport Consultation Feedback

David Ayton-Hill presented the feedback from the consultation on proposed changes to the Home to School and College Transport Policy. The consultation, which ran from November 2025 to January 2026, received 623 responses, with a mixed reception. Strongest opposition was noted for proposals to remove or narrow support affecting SEND pupils, respite settings, managed moves, catchment schools, and walking routes. Councillor Jan Matecki, Chair of the Committee, acknowledged the sensitivity of the area and the need to balance affordability with inclusion, particularly during times of financial constraint. He questioned the higher response rate from the south of the county and suggested considering means-testing for SEND pupils' transport.

Key areas of disagreement included:

• SEND nursery age provision: 54.2% disagreed with removing transport for SEND nursery-aged children, citing concerns about future provision, early intervention, and fairness.
• Nearest qualifying school: Significant disagreement was expressed regarding removing catchment schools as a factor (53.1% disagreed), with concerns about parental choice, fairness for rural families, and the impact on securing appropriate SEND provision.
• Transport to respite settings and managed moves: Strong disagreement was voiced (66.2% and 58.0% respectively), with respondents highlighting the importance of these services for family wellbeing and the potential barriers to education if transport is removed.
• Walking routes assessment (street lighting): Overwhelming disagreement (81.8%) was recorded against removing street lighting as a factor in assessing route safety, with significant concerns raised about personal safety, particularly for vulnerable groups and in rural areas.
• Independent travel training (post 16): While opinions were more divided, disagreement was slightly higher (38.8% vs 38.0% for sources of assistance, and 41.1% vs 38.3% for hours). However, for the ability to use public transport, disagreement was higher (54.2% vs 30.1% agreement).

The committee noted that final recommendations would be presented to Cabinet in June 2026, with implementation planned for September 2026.

Infrastructure Funding Statement 2024/25

Graham Palmer presented the Infrastructure Funding Statement for 2024/25. The statement details Section 106 (S106) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions secured, received, and spent. In 2024/25, £10 million in new S106 agreements was secured, with over £36 million received and over £21 million spent on infrastructure projects. Councillor Jonathan Chilvers raised concerns about the lagginess of S106 delivery, citing the Harbury Lane scheme as an example where infrastructure was delivered long after homes were occupied. He questioned the transparency of S106 agreements and suggested ways to improve this. Mr Palmer confirmed that all S106 agreements are publicly available and that the council aims to secure contributions at the right time. He also noted that biodiversity offsetting contributions have a 30-year spending period. Councillor Chilvers also raised concerns about the £5 million held for biodiversity funding, suggesting opportunities to increase the scale of spending. Mr Palmer explained that the ecology team plans spending over the 30-year period and can pool contributions. Councillor Wayne supported Councillor Chilvers' point about delays and questioned whether schemes were delayed due to a lack of officer resources. He also raised concerns about the £128 million retained balance and the £38 million unallocated funds, asking for clarification on their status. Mr Palmer assured that the team monitors these funds and that reasons for delays are validated. He offered to provide further breakdowns of figures. Steve Smith, Director of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, added that reports on biodiversity net gain and education contributions would be brought forward, acknowledging construction inflation impacts.

HS2 Update

Steve Smith provided an update on the HS2 project in Warwickshire. He noted the peak of construction activity, leading to increased road closures as offline infrastructure is integrated with the road network. Weekend closures on the M42 and M6 are anticipated over the summer, with details to be communicated in May. Mr Smith also addressed concerns about foul odours from spoil heaps in North Warwickshire, stating HS2 is developing a plan to address this. Road condition deterioration remains a concern, with modest sums allocated for repairs, and a commitment to see more from HS2. Garry Palmer, Head of the HS2 Consents Team, confirmed that all £8.045 million from the HS2 Road Safety Fund has been allocated, with delivery ongoing. Councillor Jonathan Chilvers inquired about the success rate of highway damage claims, and Mr Palmer stated that four or five of the ten outstanding claims had received initial responses after approximately 30 months, with hopes for further resolution.

Communities OSC Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme and agreed it was up to date. Councillor Jonathan Chilvers requested that the report promised by Steve Smith on infrastructure delivery and timeliness be scheduled as soon as possible.

Any Other Business

Richard Harkin, Senior Account Manager (Communications), raised concerns about the potential financial impacts of the war in Iran on highways contractors, citing uncertainty around oil prices and the Strait of Hormuz. He reassured members that the council was taking this seriously and engaging with suppliers to identify mitigation strategies. Councillor Wayne supported this, drawing parallels with the A46 bridge scenario where material availability was an issue, and suggested securing materials now at current prices. He also raised concerns about the potential for delays due to officer resources.

The Chair, Councillor Jan Matecki, concluded the meeting, thanking officers, committee members, and the public for their contributions. He noted that this was the last meeting of the year and highlighted the learning curve for new portfolio holders and committee members.